Point of sail: what exactly does it refer to?

[gvogelsang]

Broad reach is a point of sail reference point for sailing at more than a 90 degree angle from the wind, but not dead down wind.

For a sail boat sailing in that direction, the sails would be "let out". One of the cool things about windsurfing is that you can be "close hauled", meaning your sail trimmed right in, on a broad reach. You do this because you are able to go faster than the wind, and so your "apparent wind" moves aft - and you need to be close hauled so that your sail does not luff.

Ice boats can sail way off the wind with their sails close hauled. You also see that when guys are using speed boards on a speed course.